John Malkovich Draws a 13-Minute Standing Ovation at the Venice Film Festival

John Malkovich’s latest film has sparked an outpouring of enthusiasm, moved audiences to tears and already fueled early Oscar buzz.

Wild Horse No. 9, due in theaters on November 6, received a 13-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.

According to PEOPLE, the excitement inside the theater was palpable, with the 72-year-old Malkovich visibly struggling to hold back tears. Audiences, who had laughed loudly throughout the screening, showered the cast and filmmakers with enthusiastic cheers and applause.

At the center of Wild Horse No. 9 are two CIA agents, played by Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, who are sent from Santiago, Chile, to Easter Island amid mounting tensions that ultimately culminated in Chile’s 1973 coup.

Speaking at a press conference, Malkovich made it clear that after decades in the film industry, his passion for acting has not diminished in the slightest.

“I’ve basically spent my whole life doing what I love, and I plan to keep doing it,” said the two-time Oscar nominee. “I’m not planning to retire because I think they’ll retire me when the time comes. That seems like the natural course of things.”